Improvement in hopper-valves for closets



L. W0 LFF. Improvement in Hopper-Valves for Closets, 8L0."

No. 131,924. Patented 0ct.1,1872.

i I I in FHOW-UTHUGRAFIIM mmmassole/vzts moczss) -ATEN T FFICE.

LUDWIG Woman, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,924, dated October1, 1872.

To all whom'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUDWIG WOLFF,'Of the city of Chicago and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and'useful Improvement in the Constructionof Hopper-Valves, of which ing used; Fig. 2 is a section, showing theposition of the plunger when the closet is not being used; and Fig. 3 isa horizontal section. My invention relates to the arrangement of twoplungers and a spring inside of a valvechamber in such a manner that thedifficulties hitherto connected with hopper-valves are perfectlyovercome. These difficulties now are, the great power which is requiredto work the hopper-valves on account ofthe heavy spring which worksagainst the pressure of the hydrant-water, and the force and troublerequired in putting the different parts of these valves together.Another serious objection against the valves now in use is the waste ofwater, as the waste-pipe of these valves is not only letting off thewater which has collected in the valve-chamber, but is wasting Waterconstantly as long as the closet is in use.

In the drawing, a represents the pipe which connects the valve with thehydrant; b, the pipe connecting with the closet. A represents the bodyof the valve-chamber. c is the lower and d the upper plunger; 6, the rodof the lower plunger, which passes partly into the upper plunger, whichforms a guide for the movement of the lower plunger. The upper plungeris provided on its lower face and the lower plunger on its top face witha leather washer or packing to make them fit tight on v the lower andupper faces of the rim g. The

water from passing the valve. I use a very light spring, just strongenough to lift the plungers. A little piston, k, passes through thevalve-head r and rests against the upper plunger; but between them is anelastic packing, Z, which closes the top of the valve and allows thepiston to work easily. m is a small pipe to let off the waste water,having a small opening in the upper face of the rim y, where it can beshut off by means of the upper plunger.

When the closet is in use the piston k is pressed down upon the upperplunger d, which moves downward and causes the plunger 0 also to descendby compressing the spring h. As soon as the upper plunger closes on thetop face of the rim 9 it can move no further, thereby protecting thespring h from being strained or pressed out of shape. In this positionof the plunger the water can pass freely from a to b-that is, from thehydrant to the hopper of the closet. Meanwhile the upper plunger 61closes the opening of the waste-pipe m, in the upper face of the rim g,thus preventing a waste of water while the closet is being used. Whenthe closet is left the spring h moves the lower plunger upward till itreaches the lower face of the rim 9 and shuts off the water of thehydrant; and as, by means of the rod 6, the upper plunger is alsoraised, the waste water can flow off through the pipe m, thus keepingthe valve-chamber dry and preventing the water from freezing therein.

The whole valve can be put together in one minute. The piston 70 is putin the head 1';

the upper plunger is put in the valve-chamher, and the packing I laid inits place, when the head 1" is screwed on. The valve is next turnedaround, when the lower plunger 0, with the spring h, is put in place,and the bottom G is readily screwed on and secured in proper position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A hopper-valve constructed with the plungers c and (1, rod 0, and pistonis, in combination with the springh, rim g, and valve-chamber A havingthe pipes 0gb, and m, all being constructed and arranged substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

LUDWIG WOLFE.

Witnesses:

FRED. W. WOLF, G. B. MEYER.

